Sarah Penrod

One of the final four hopefuls in the competition, Sarah didn't have what it takes to film a pilot for her would-be show, and she was ultimately sent home 10 weeks into the journey after she unsuccessfully pitched a Texas-themed pilot to the network.

Early Struggles

In her first presentation to the mentors, Sarah spoke of her history in "acting and pageantry" and ended the performance with a few blown kisses, much to the Committee's dismay. "Blowing kisses should be the last thing you should consider doing," Alton warned her.

Home Roots

All of the finalists were given journals to use during their time in the competition, and Sarah filled hers with feedback from the mentors, story ideas for various challenges and drawings of her family, as seen here.

Sarah the Fixer

Sarah found herself in a difficult position in week two when she had to get Alton's recipe back on track after Christopher had incorrectly instructed Alton to dice onions when making a green bean casserole topping. "Nice job," Alton told her after she successfully delivered a re-do.

Forced POV

Tasked with creating and teaching a meal with a mix of oddball ingredients, Sarah made a turkey burger and mashed potatoes — and used them to attempt to further her date night point of view. "It's a date with my mom," Alton told her. He added, "If you can't find the ingredients that work with your POV, shift."

Mixed Results

In Episode 3's Cutthroat Kitchen-style challenge, Sarah was sabotaged with having to use the bacon from a premade BLT sandwich in her breakfast dish. Despite the mandate, she delivered an impressive breakfast, according to Bobby, but he noted, "You made your presentation about me when it should have told us more about you."

Background Character

"Sarah and Loreal didn't have any impact," Bobby admitted of the two ladies after he watched the YouTube video they made with Chris. The team was ultimately spared from elimination, but the mentors were looking for more from them.

Change in Perspective

Sarah shocked the mentors and fans alike in week five when she suddenly ditched her date night point of view in favor of the food of her home state of Texas. "This is the first time I've done Texas as a POV, so I'm winging it," she said of her plans for the July 4th-themed challenge at Knott's Berry Farm.

Food Flop

"People liked her and they were responding to her," Giada said of Sarah after seeing her live culinary demonstration on stage. But her dish of the day — a chile cheeseburger and pasta salad — was "not impactful," Bobby added.

Cooking for Babies

Episode 6 tasked the finalists with creating signature culinary products and marketing them in a commercial, and Sarah was intent on using her role as a mom to make baby food — with a Texas flair.

Island Ingredients

While some finalists were forced to sell their products from such unlikely settings as the desert and the moon (with the help of a greenscreen), Sarah was transported to a tropical island. "I used coconuts in my product, so I can say that I'm out there sourcing coconuts," she explained.

Welcome to Sin City

In keeping with Las Vegas' penchant for parties, the finalists hosted a Sin City pool party at Caesars Palace in Episode 7, complete with alfresco eats. Sarah wasn't shy about wanting to feature beef as her main dish, but unfortunately for her, Chris snagged the tenderloin before she could claim it. Sarah said: "I'm pretty mad. I'm done with him."

Trying for Tokens

"I have no customers," Sarah explained of the situation at her station by the pool. Fans had three tokens to give to the finalists of their choice, and Sarah struggled to draw guests with her pork and grits. "It doesn't scream Texas," Giada said of Sarah's offering.

Las Vegas Rebound

After being on the bottom in Episode 7, Sarah came back from behind with an over-the-top offering of Wagyu beef rib eye. The Selection Committee was wowed by the decadent dish, as Bob deemed it reminiscent of "Tex-Vegas." Giada told her, "You delivered one of your best performances yet today."

Big Apple Bound

It was all about the demands of live television during the finalists' first week in New York City, where they had to film live pieces and star on The Rachael Ray Show. According to Giada, Sarah succeeded in being "funny and spontaneous" while she broadcast live from Chelsea Market's Manhattan Fruit Exchange, even though she outwardly struggled with audio issues.

Missing the Connection

On The Rachael Ray Show, Sarah was tasked with creating freezer-friendly meals for a family, and she ultimately did just that in the form of taco-inspired soup. Her delivery of the dish, however, didn't wow the mentors, as she failed to engage with the guests. "I just don’t think that it was very entertaining to watch," Giada told her.

Last Challenge

In what would be her final week in the competition, Sarah was let go after pitching a promo for her would-be show on Food Network. Bob praised her "enthusiasm." Susie, however, explained, "It's missing a little authenticity for me," after Sarah failed to mention her role as a mom.

Sarah Says Goodbye

After nearly 10 weeks in the contest, Lenny, Nicole and Luca claimed the three pilot opportunities, and Sarah was sent home just shy of filming a pilot for her own show. "You never know where things like this take you, and I'm just grateful that I got to experience it," Sarah said, reflecting on her journey.